Trogocytosis in innate immunity to cancer is an intimate relationship with unexpected outcomes

Trogocytosis is a cellular process whereby a cell acquires a membrane fragment from a donor cell in a contact-dependent manner allowing for the transfer of surface proteins with functional integrity. It is involved in various biological processes, including cell-cell communication, immune regulation, and response to pathogens and cancer cells, with poorly defined molecular mechanisms. With the exception of eosinophils, trogocytosis has been reported in most immune cells and plays diverse roles in the modulation of anti-tumor immune responses. Here, we report that eosinophils acquire membrane fragments from tumor cells early after contact through the CD11b/CD18 integrin complex. We discuss the impact of trogocytosis in innate immune cells on cancer progression in the context of the evidence that eosinophils can engage in trogocytosis with tumor cells. We also discuss shared and cell-specific mechanisms underlying this process based on in silico modeling and provide a hypothetical molecular model for the stabilization of the immunological synapse operating in granulocytes and possibly other innate immune cells that enables trogocytosis

The Pleiotropic Immunomodulatory Functions of IL-33 and Its Implications in Tumor Immunity

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a IL-1 family member of cytokines exerting pleiotropic activities. In the steady-state, IL-33 is expressed in the nucleus of epithelial, endothelial, and fibroblast-like cells acting as a nuclear protein. In response to tissue damage, infections or necrosis IL-33 is released in the extracellular space, where it functions as an alarmin for the immune system. Its specific receptor ST2 is expressed by a variety of immune cell types, resulting in the stimulation of a wide range of immune reactions. Recent evidences suggest that different IL-33 isoforms exist, in virtue of proteolytic cleavage or alternative mRNA splicing, with potentially different biological activity and functions. Although initially studied in the context of allergy, infection, and inflammation, over the past decade IL-33 has gained much attention in cancer immunology. Increasing evidences indicate that IL-33 may have opposing functions, promoting, or dampening tumor immunity, depending on the tumor type, site of expression, and local concentration. In this review we will cover the biological functions of IL-33 on various immune cell subsets (e.g., T cells, NK, Treg cells, ILC2, eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils, mast cells, DCs, and macrophages) that affect anti-tumor immune responses in experimental and clinical cancers. We will also discuss the possible implications of diverse IL-33 mutations and isoforms in the anti-tumor activity of the cytokine and as possible clinical biomarkers

Physical activity in liver transplant recipients: a large multicenter study

Aim Healthy lifestyle and appropriate diet are of critical importance after liver transplant (LT). We provided an analysis of the main patterns of physical activity and found factors associated with physical activity itself.Methods Clinically stable LT recipients were enrolled between June and September 2021. Patients completed a composite questionnaire about physical activity, adherence to Mediterranean Diet (MD), quality of life (QoL), and employment. Correlations were analysed using the Pearson coefficients while different subgroups were compared by t-test for independent samples or ANOVAs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to find predictors of inactivity.Results We enrolled 511 subjects (71% males, mean age 63 +/- 10.8 years). One hundred and ninety-three patients reported high level of physical activity, 197 a minimal activity and 121 declared insufficient activity. Among these latter, 29 subjects were totally inactive. Considering the 482 LT recipients performing some kind of physical activity, almost all reported a low-quality, non-structured activity. At multivariate analysis, time from LT (odds ratio 0.94, 95% CI 0.89-0.99, p = 0.017), sedentary lifestyle (odds ratio 0.99, 95% CI 0.19-0.81, p = 0.012), low adherence to MD (odds ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.01-1.48, p = 0.049), and low level of QoL (physical dimension) (odds ratio 1.13, 95% CI 1.08-1.17, p < 0.001), were independently associated with total inactivity.Conclusion A large portion of LT recipients report an insufficient level of physical activity or are wholly inactive. Inactivity increases with time from LT and was strongly associated with suboptimal diet and low QoL

Studio e realizzazione di metamateriali per applicazioni all'elettronica ed alle telecomunicazioni

n. 1-2, gennaio-april

Study and Fabrication of Metamaterials for Electronics and Telecommunications Applications

maggi

Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt does not affect the efficacy and safety of direct-acting antivirals in patients with advanced cirrhosis: A real-life, case-control study

Background: Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) is a well-established treatment for complications of portal hypertension. Aims: To analyze the impact of TIPS on virologic response and safety profile in patients treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAA). Methods: We analyzed data from HCV-positive cirrhotic patients treated with DAAs. Twenty-one patients with previous TIPS placement were compared with 42 matched subjects without TIPS. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of hepatic function worsening and adverse events. Results: No differences were found between the two groups in particular regarding sustained virologic response (92.5 and 97.6% in TIPS vs no-TIPS, p=0.559). Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) of both TIPS and no-TIPS groups declined from baseline to week 24 of follow-up (from 12.5\ub13.5 to 10.8\ub13.4 and from 11.1\ub13.5 to 10.3\ub13.4, p=0.044 and 0.025). There were no differences in adverse event rates. At univariate analysis, age was associated with MELD increase from baseline to week 24 (OR 1.111, 95% CI 1.019-1.211, p=0.017), and patients with higher baseline MELD developed serious adverse events more frequently (OR 0.815, 95% CI 0.658-1.010, p=0.062). Patients with or without TIPS did not show differences in transplant-free survival. Conclusion: TIPS placement does not affect virologic response and clinical outcome of patients receiving DAAs

The Pleiotropic Immunomodulatory Functions of IL-33 and Its Implications in Tumor Immunity

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a IL-1 family member of cytokines exerting pleiotropic activities. In the steady-state, IL-33 is expressed in the nucleus of epithelial, endothelial, and fibroblast-like cells acting as a nuclear protein. In response to tissue damage, infections or necrosis IL-33 is released in the extracellular space, where it functions as an alarmin for the immune system. Its specific receptor ST2 is expressed by a variety of immune cell types, resulting in the stimulation of a wide range of immune reactions. Recent evidences suggest that different IL-33 isoforms exist, in virtue of proteolytic cleavage or alternative mRNA splicing, with potentially different biological activity and functions. Although initially studied in the context of allergy, infection, and inflammation, over the past decade IL-33 has gained much attention in cancer immunology. Increasing evidences indicate that IL-33 may have opposing functions, promoting, or dampening tumor immunity, depending on the tumor type, site of expression, and local concentration. In this review we will cover the biological functions of IL-33 on various immune cell subsets (e.g., T cells, NK, Treg cells, ILC2, eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils, mast cells, DCs, and macrophages) that affect anti-tumor immune responses in experimental and clinical cancers. We will also discuss the possible implications of diverse IL-33 mutations and isoforms in the anti-tumor activity of the cytokine and as possible clinical biomarkers